diff --git a/src/lerobot/datasets/pyav_utils.py b/src/lerobot/datasets/pyav_utils.py
index 7b7d1e5d..c638c1fe 100644
--- a/src/lerobot/datasets/pyav_utils.py
+++ b/src/lerobot/datasets/pyav_utils.py
@@ -70,12 +70,12 @@ def get_codec(vcodec: str) -> av.codec.Codec | None:
 
 
 @functools.cache
-def _get_codec_options_by_name(vcodec: str) -> dict[str, av.option.Option]:
+def _get_codec_options_by_name(vcodec: str) -> dict[str, Any]:
     """Private-option name → PyAV ``Option`` for *vcodec* (empty if unavailable)."""
     codec = get_codec(vcodec)
     if codec is None:
         return {}
-    return {opt.name: opt for opt in codec.descriptor.options}
+    return {opt.name: opt for opt in getattr(getattr(codec, "descriptor", None), "options", ())}
 
 
 @functools.cache
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ def detect_available_encoders_pyav(encoders: list[str] | str) -> list[str]:
     return available
 
 
-def _check_option_value(vcodec: str, label: str, value: Any, opt: av.option.Option) -> None:
+def _check_option_value(vcodec: str, label: str, value: Any, opt: Any) -> None:
     """Range-check numeric *value* and choice-check string *value* against *opt*."""
     type_name = opt.type.name
     if type_name in FFMPEG_NUMERIC_OPTION_TYPES:
@@ -212,8 +212,7 @@ def check_video_encoder_parameters_pyav(
     Raises:
         ValueError: on the first incompatibility encountered.
     """
-    options = _get_codec_options_by_name(vcodec)
-    if not options:
+    if get_codec(vcodec) is None:
         raise ValueError(f"Codec {vcodec!r} is not available in the bundled FFmpeg build")
     _check_pixel_format(vcodec, pix_fmt)
     if channels is not None: